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| Thursday, August 31 By Glen Farley Pro Football Weekly | ||||||||||||||||||||
For a dozen years, despite a consistently unfavorable drafting position courtesy of 10 playoff appearances, the Bills managed to remain among the NFL's elite.
Quarterbacks: When camp began, many observers felt the Bills had the league's best depth at this position. But that was before backup Doug Flutie tore a groin muscle that likely will cause him to miss the season's first three games. Flutie was 17-8 as a starter in two years with Buffalo before losing the job to Rob Johnson prior to last season's finale.
Grade: C+ Running backs: Gash's blocking and leadership will be sorely missed, but the Bills already intended to go with the one-RB set preferred by Antowain Smith and Jonathan Linton. However, Smith, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards in 1998, must show he can remain healthy after playing hurt most of last season. Linton showed up nearly 20 pounds lighter and considerably faster than last year but is still being pressed by Shawn Bryson, a third-round draft pick in '99 who missed all of last year with a major knee injury. Grade: C+ Wide receivers: Eric Moulds is a Pro Bowl-quality player and is nicely complemented by second-year speedster Peerless Price, who had already replaced the disenchanted Reed late last season. However, the other wideouts have never caught an NFL pass. Former practice-squader Jeremy McDaniel looms as the No. 3 receiver, with fourth-round draft pick Avion Black in the mix. Undrafted free agent Kwame Cavil was also impressive in camp. Clearly, an injury to a starter, particularly Moulds, would devastate this unit. At tight end, Jay Riemersma is a big, sure-handed target. Behind him, Bobby Collins and Sheldon Jackson have good speed, with the latter also showing promise as a fullback/H-back. Grade: C+ Offensive linemen: This maligned unit was the big story in the playoff loss at Tennessee, as a patchwork crew did a surprisingly good job against Jevon Kearse and the Titans' defensive front. Steady Jerry Ostroski returns at center, with Ruben Brown, who has made four straight Pro Bowls, at one guard and Joe Panos at the other. Panos, who missed all of last season with a neck injury, reclaims his job, as '99 starter Dusty Zeigler, the former center, went to the Giants as a free agent. The tackles are veteran John Fina and 6-7, 330-pound youngster Robert Hicks. In reserve are overweight but still promising Jamie Nails and Marcus Spriggs, who combined for six starts last season. Grade: B- Defense Defensive linemen: It's ludicrous to suggest this unit won't affected by the loss of Bruce Smith. But it's also the Bills' deepest platoon. defensive end Phil Hansen is vastly underrated, and nose tackle Ted Washington remains a force -- albeit a corpulent one -- in the middle. Young Marcellus Wiley takes over at right end, and while he's not quite Smith in his prime, the coaching staff thinks Wiley can do a solid impersonation of his predecessor at age 37. However, Wiley missed part of training camp because of back surgery. Talented, young Pat Williams backs Washington, and first-round draft choice Erik Flowers, a pass-rush specialist who looked good in the preseason, will play left end in passing situations, with Hansen moving to tackle. Also in the mix is veteran Shawn Price, who can play either tackle or end. Grade: B+ Linebackers: With few teams playing a 3-4 alignment, it's hard for inside linebacker Sam Cowart to get his deserved Pro Bowl consideration, especially playing alongside complementary playmaker John Holecek. Steady Sam Rogers, who used to play the strong-side spot, makes room for young Keith Newman by moving to the weak-side position formerly occupied by free agent Gabe Northern (Pittsburgh). However, making a strong bid for playing time in passing situations is Corey Moore, the ultra-quick third-round draft choice from Virginia Tech. Second-year pro Jay Foreman backs up Cowart and Holecek. Grade: B- Defensive backs: The biggest free- agent losses on the NFL's league-leading defense (fewest yards surrendered, second-fewest points given up) were here, with the exits of Schulz and Thomas Smith. Incredibly, despite its high statistical standing, not one Buffalo defender made the Pro Bowl. Antoine Winfield, last year's first-round draft choice, replaces Smith, though Winfield will play the left side. Kenny Irvin, who was the left corner, moves to the right. Veteran SS Henry Jones teams with Keion Carpenter, who won Schulz's spot in camp after a battle with Daryl Porter and second-round draft choice Travares Tillman, who failed to impress. Porter and Donovan Greer are in reserve at the corners, while Raion Hill backs up Jones. Grade: C Special teams The Titans' "Home Run Throw Back" cost special-teams coach Bruce DeHaven his job and was the last emphatic reminder of weak kick coverage. However, there hasn't been dramatic improvement in that area under his successor, Ronnie Jones, although the kick blocking has impressed. Black, with his fabulous speed, looms as a threat on both kickoffs and punts; fellow rookie wide receiver Drew Haddad struggled on the latter. Kicker Steve Christie hits a solid percentage of his field-goal attempts, but his kickoffs are short. None of his challengers, however, kicked deep enough to earn a roster spot. P Chris Mohr isn't long but has solid hang time and is a good directional punter. Grade: C 
Material from Pro Football Weekly.Visit their website at http://www.profootballweekly.com |
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